“Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change”

– Barbara Mikulski

So what is the good lawyer?

In 2016 Susan Gray and I joined the independent criminal bar. As part of our practice we want to contribute to society in a meaningful way. We decided to create The Good Lawyer platform to do this. 

My first project is the Good Book Project. I want to fill New Zealand’s prisons with books. There is a chronic shortage of books in New Zealand prisons particularly in minority languages. Reading allows prisoners to experience and think about new ideas and human stories, both similar and different to their own. Either way, reading in prison can offer hope, knowledge and help pass the days and nights in a constructive way. So if you have a book (or several) to donate, please send me an email or drop them off to me at Blackstone Chambers at 14 Wyndham Street, Auckland. Want to help with the Good Book Project? Get in touch with Emma  emma@thegoodlawyer.co.nz

Susan’s first project is Shirt On Your Back, an initiative to provide shirts to people held in custody for jury trials or where the media will be present in Court to minimise prejudice based on their appearance.  As criminal practitioners’ are aware many defendants’  on remand do not have visitors, or access to a clean presentable smart shirt. This causes stress and inequality in the justice process. We have permission from the Department of Corrections to have the shirts available at Mt Eden Prison.They will be regularly laundered by Corrections. Discussions are underway to provide the same for women at Wiri Prison in Manukau.  If you have any good condition shirts, mens and womens of all sizes to donate, please deliver them to Blackstone Chambers, 14 Wyndham Street, Auckland. They will be gratefully received. Want to help with Shirt On Your Back? Get in touch with Susan susan@thegoodlawyer.co.nz